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Whale
watching is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Clayoquot Sound.
Since the first whale watching company opened in the 1970s, businesses offering
ecotourism experiences have expanded steadily to meet the demand by visitors for
quality, safe and enjoyable wildlife encounters. |
Besides
being an exhilarating experience, whale watching provides opportunities for us
to educate visitors about the importance of marine conservation and instill an
awareness and appreciation for the natural environment and the creatures living
in it. Large whales are ambassadors for countless other species struggling today
in oceans impacted by overexploitation, pollution and global climate change. |
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Clayoquot
Sound offers a rich array of marine wildlife against a backdrop of picturesque
fjords, sandy beaches and majestic mountains. Humpback and gray whales are the
most often observed large whales in the region. We also frequently see orcas and
harbor porpoises. Whale watchers may encounter sea otters, sea lions, eagles,
sea birds, and even black bears on the beaches foraging for crabs. |
Tofino's
whale watching companies offer a variety of boat sizes and types and trips of
different duration, so it is easy to find a trip to suit your group. All whale
watch operators comply with published Whale
Watching Guidelines established by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Many
of the whale watch boat drivers carry a camera along to document the wildlife
they see. This website is the result of contributions from several drivers, local
residents and researchers. Anyone photographing a new humpback whale or matching
a whale in our catalog will be appropriately credited. |
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Further
Reading:
WDCS
and Whale Watching (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) |
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